For information about specific concentrations, contact the concentration coordinators.

Mission Statement
The Geographic Science Program empowers, inspires and motivates students to become competent critical thinkers prepared for lifelong learning, who will respond to intellectual challenges with interest, excitement and competence, and who will see themselves as global citizens actively involved in the world around them.
The program graduates majors who are confident in their abilities as geographers, prepared for a lifetime of learning in geography, who have the skills to make a professional contribution to the field, to compete successfully in the job market, to successfully pursue graduate degrees and who are highly qualified for careers in research and development -
equipped for long term success as professionals in the field of geography.

Goals
Through the study of geography students will:

Understand and properly use the terminology and concepts that are central to the discipline of geography, and explain how these concepts evolved over time. Graduates will be able to:

describe and trace the historical and philosophical development of Geographic Science.

describe the distribution of Earth's physical and human characteristics.

identify physical and human systems that influence spatial and temporal patterns on Earth.

describe the influence of geographic scale and areal differentiation on human and physical systems.

analyze problems from a geographic perspective.

identify and define prominent geospatial technologies and describe their role and practice in geography.

Effectively use appropriate geospatial technologies to address questions about human interactions within the built or natural environments. Graduates will be able to:

identify important emerging geospatial technologies and describe the types of problems where each is appropriate to use.

properly use these technologies to collect, organize, visualize, and analyze geographic data and address problems in their chosen area of concentration.

display effective communication skills in teams or group processes by eliciting/recognizing member contributions, synthesizing opinions, mediating conflicts, and reaching group consensus.

distinguish between tasks in which a team is appropriate and tasks when it is not.

work with experts from different disciplines.

Evaluate human-environment interactions from holistic point of view that addresses geographic, as well as political, social, economic and ethical factors affecting those interactions. Graduates will be able to:

identify human- and physical-oriented geographic factors related to patterns of resource use and management.

identify and describe the value of science and technology as aids in the solving of geographic problems.

account for political, social, economic, and ethical factors that impact a problem and possible solutions

describe and discuss the value of working or studying in different U.S. regions or world states.

Demonstrate civic responsibility and appreciation for culture and physical diversity from local global scales. Graduates will be able to:

apply geographic thinking to real-world problems, including appraisal of societal and environmental issues.

evaluate and interpret current issues pertaining to human diversity.

Career Opportunities
The geography major is divided into two concentration areas. Each of these offers a unique set of career opportunities.

Applied Geographic Information Science (AGIS) Concentration
JMU geographic science graduates with an AGIS concentration have been able to gain professional employment with government and industry or to go on to graduate programs. Public agencies where they have found employment include local and regional planning agencies, mapping organizations such as the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, intelligence agencies such as the CIA, and also in the environmental science field with the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies.

JMU AGIS concentrators have also found opportunities in industry with companies such as Earth Satellite Corporation, GeoEye, Lockheed, SPOT Image, Logicom, SAIC, Sanborn, Booz-Allen Hamilton and many others.

Environmental Conservation, Sustainability and Development Concentration
Geographic science graduates trained in resource analysis, environmental conservation and sustainable development have obtained jobs with local, state and federal governments, non-profit organizations, and for-profit agencies. Organizations hire geographers to work in environmental and land use planning, resource management (including hydrology, forestry and soil conservation), area or regional specialties, international business, community development, and development of human and natural resources in foreign nations. Many geographic science graduates move on to graduate degrees (master's and Ph.D.) and become educators in higher education (community colleges and universities) or obtain other higher level positions in both the private and public sector.

Private environmental organizations and consulting firms, as well as government agencies, have all hired students completing the environmental studies concentration at JMU. Principal employers include the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey and non-profit organizations including the Nature Conservancy and Peace Corps. Particularly marketable for JMU geographic science graduates is the combination of experiences in the environmental geographies and AGIS.

Co-curricular Activities and Organizations

Geography Club

Gamma Theta Upsilon (International Geographical Honor Society)

Degree and Major Requirements

Bachelor of Arts in Geographic Science Degree Requirements

Required Courses

Credit Hours

General Education1

41

Foreign Language classes (intermediate level required)2

0-14

Philosophy course(s) (in addition to General Education courses)

3

Major requirements (listed below)

53

Electives

19-23

120

1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary. GISAT 251 for the math requirement in Cluster 3 is strongly recommended, as is GGEOG 200 in Cluster 4.2 The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student's chosen language (typically 232) or by placing out of that language through the Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures' placement test.

In addition to the geography core courses, students must choose one of two concentrations, listed in the "Concentrations" section.

Bachelor of Science in Geographic Science
Degree Requirements

Required Courses

Credit Hours

General Education1

41-44

Quantitative requirement (in addition to General Education)

3

Scientific Literacy requirement (in addition to General Education)

3-4

Major requirements (listed below)

53

Electives

19-23

120

1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary. GISAT 251 for the math requirement in Cluster 3 is strongly recommended, as is GGEOG 200 in Cluster 4.

Courses from the ISAT program, the Department of Computer Science and the College of Business may be used as electives, as approved by the GS Program Director.

Environmental Conservation, Sustainability and Development Concentration

The environmental conservation, sustainability and development (ECSD) concentration focuses on the geographical contexts within which people and places interact. Required and elective course work allows students to explore spatial and temporal patterning between human communities and the natural environment at multiple scales. The curriculum addresses global change and sustainable development; resource distribution, consumption and conservation; energy; cultural ecology; regional geography; and human conceptualization of the environment.

In addition to the geography core requirements, all students in the environmental conservation, sustainability and development concentration must complete the following course work.

Each student selects four courses from the list below. These 300-level courses are identified on their concentration form, which will be reviewed and approved by the ECSD committee. Other courses may substitute for one of the electives
with approval of the ECSD committee.

Credit by Examination
Credit by examination is offered for some courses taught in the program of geographic science. Students who want permission to take an examination must apply to the program director during the first week of the semester.

Mission Statement
The IA program will prepare students to solve problems in national, international or business intelligence settings. They will apply the principles of logic and reasoning, data mining and data synthesis with the influences of cultural and political factors to arrive at a holistic solution. This requires the student to have a firm understanding of logic, reasoning, and aspects of how the human mind operates (cognitive psychology) joined with an understanding of cultural and political factors that may influence the relevance of data and a solid understanding of different technologies that facilitate the collecting and evaluation of data.

Employment Opportunities
IA students can find employment in an array of government agencies, including the military, as well as select US and multinational corporations.

Degree and Major Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Information Analysis
Degree Requirements

Required Courses

Credit Hours

General Education1

41

Quantitative requirement (in addition to General Education)

3

Scientific Literacy requirement (in addition to General Education)

3-4

IA foundations and core courses

42

IA concentration courses

15

Electives

22

120

1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill.

Concentrations
Students must complete either the national security concentration or the competetive intelligence concentration.

National Security
To complete this concentration, students must take the following four national security courses. In addition, three credits must be selected from the competitive intelligence concentration.

Competitive Intelligence
To complete this concentration, 12 credits must be selected from either the set of business intelligence courses or the set of global economics perspective courses. In addition, three credits must be selected from the national security concentration.

These are GenEd Cluster Three courses required for the IA major. They will be recorded as GenEd, not IA, credits.

All IA majors will be encouraged to do a not-for-credit internship in information analysis.

Integrated Science and TechnologyDr. Polly Cushman, Interim Head

Mission Statement
The Mission of the Integrated Science and Technology Program is to prepare students for the complex world that awaits them outside the walls of academe. Today's graduates should be familiar with a broad range of scientific, technological, and social concepts, and empowered with concrete skills that will make them leaders in solving the real human problems that confront advanced societies.

The foundational concept of the ISAT Program, which distinguishes it from other science and technology based programs, is its integration of multiple disciplines within a student's four-year course of study. The unique integrative character of the program is carried by the curriculum content, pedagogy, and departmental culture. We measure our success by achieving the following ten goals:

ISAT grads are autonomous, self-directed learners who recognize the need for lifelong learning.

ISAT grads use the computer as an effective problem-solving tool.

Co-curricular Activities and Organizations

ISAT Honor Society

ISAT LINKS

JMU Student Chapter, Air and Waste Management Association

JMU Student Chapter, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

JMU Student Chapter, Association for Facilities Engineering

JMU Student Chapter, Association of Energy Engineers

JMU Student Chapter, Virginia Biotechnology Association

JMU Student Chapter, Society of Automotive Engineers International

JMU Student Chapter, Society of Manufacturing Engineering

JMU Student Chapter, IEEE Computer Society

Degree and Major Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Integrated Science and Technology
Degree Requirements

While completing the ISAT courses, the student will also pursue the university's general education curriculum that is required of all students and is a cornerstone of the education received by every student. The required ISAT courses are listed below. A total of 120 credit hours are required for graduation.

In addition, a grade equal to or higher than "C-" is required for all ISAT Foundation courses that are prerequisites to other required ISAT courses before an ISAT major can take that ISAT course.

Courses

Credit Hours

Issues in Science and Technology I-IV

13

Social Context of Technology & Science

6

Analytical Methods I-V

17

Strategic Sectors/Concentration

31-33

Senior Thesis/Project

6

General Education courses and electives1

46-49

121

1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.

Major Requirements

The ISAT program offers the Bachelor of Science degree in Integrated Science and Technology and the M.S. degree. See the JMU Graduate Catalog for information on the M.S. program. The B.S. curriculum produces a graduate broadly acquainted with basic science, technology and business principles. All students pursue a common program through their sophomore year that provides a foundation of science and an introduction to its technology applications. Studies are integrated and include mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry, biology, knowledge-based systems, environmental science, modern production, energy, and the role of science and technology in society.

During their junior and senior years, all students pursue deeper study of strategically significant areas of technology that include biosystems, energy, environmental studies, engineering and manufacturing, information and knowledge management, and telecommunications. Each student selects a concentration in any of these areas and pursues additional study in the concentration culminating in a senior project. Students rely heavily upon the computer as a problem-solving tool throughout the curriculum, work in teams extensively and engage in laboratory experiences in the requisite sciences.

Integrated Science and Technology Major with Pre-health Preparation
Students majoring in ISAT desiring to prepare for higher education in health careers (dentistry, optometry, medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, veterinary) may waive some required ISAT courses if they take equivalent courses required by the pre-health programs.

These equivalencies are NOT generally granted outside of a pre-health preparation program. Students who begin a preparation but do not finish it may be able to have some of the courses waived. Please contact Paul Henriksen, henrikpw@jmu.edu for more information.

First Year Students and Sophomore Courses

Issues in Science and Technology
This sequence of four courses engages students in the practice of science, both to motivate and to provide understanding of science and technology in the context of important current social issues. Current areas from which issues are selected are living systems, the environment, modern production and energy.

Social Context of Technology and Science
This two-course sequence introduces the student to the non-technological issues encountered in science and technology problem-solving, particularly social, ethical, economic and legal issues.

Analytical Methods
This sequence of five courses provides students with basic methods and tools for understanding and analyzing problems in science and technology. Subjects are taught in an integrated manner with applications as the unifying factor. Topics include calculus, elements of the physical sciences, statistics, project management, the computer, knowledge-based systems and instrumentation and measurement.

Junior and Senior Courses

Strategic Sectors in Science and Technology
Students complete 19-21 credit hours of instruction in strategic sectors during their junior year. The strategic sectors, developed from national critical technologies lists, represent areas of current strategic importance in the world economy. The sectors are biosystems, energy, environment, engineering/manufacturing, information/ knowledge management, telecommunications and health systems.

Concentration Requirements
Students are provided the opportunity to focus their program of study by taking four additional courses in a particular area of concentration. The current areas for a concentration are as follows:

Biosystems

Energy

Engineering and Manufacturing

Environment

Information and Knowledge Management

Telecommunications

The option is also open for students to tailor their area of concentration with the help and approval of their adviser.

Senior Thesis/Project
This is the capstone experience of the senior year. Working as part of a team of students and interdisciplinary faculty, seniors will propose, develop, manage, analyze and report on a project that addresses some issue of interest within their concentration.

Integrated Science and Technology Minor
The minor in ISAT mirrors the major in ISAT by having a breadth component and a depth component. The breadth component is satisfied through nine credit hours in Issues in Science and Technology and the Foundations of Instrumentation and Measurement. The depth component is satisfied through focused study in a concentration area requiring either nine or ten additional credit hours.

Students should note that many courses have ISAT prerequisites outside the minor (although equivalents to ISAT prerequisite courses will be accepted). In planning a sequence of courses for the minor, students are encouraged to meet with an ISAT adviser to ensure that all needed prerequisites will be taken in due course. In addition, before a student pursuing an ISAT minor can take any ISAT course, a grade equal to or higher than "C-"; is required for all ISAT foundation courses that are prerequisites for another required course. The minimum requirements for the minor in ISAT follow.

Materials Science Program Minor
The Department of Integrated Science and Technology is a major participant in the university's Materials Science program. A minor is available in materials science. The materials science minor provides students with an opportunity to increase their research experience as well as develop multidisciplinary skills and knowledge in the science, engineering and application of materials.

Additional information about the materials science minor may be obtained from the Center for Materials Science in Room 3206 in the HHS Building, or by calling the director at 540-568-2723 or 540-568-8776.

Environmental Information Systems Minor
The Department of Integrated Science and Technology is a major participant in the university's Environmental Information Systems program. For more information on this minor, see Interdisciplinary programs.

Interdisciplinary Majors

Biotechnology
In cooperation with the Department of Integrated Science and Technology and the Department of Chemistry, the Department of Biology offers a four-year, interdisciplinary B.S. degree program for a major in biotechnology.

Biotechnology majors must complete 47-53 credit hours of science foundation courses, 17 credit hours of biotechnology transition and core courses, and 15 credit hours of concentration courses including a capstone experience. With the advice and approval of a concentration adviser, each student selects the courses for his or her concentration area. Three broad areas of concentrations are suggested to serve a spectrum of student needs and desires. A research concentration would prepare students for graduate school or entry into a research laboratory. An industry concentration would prepare students for entry into the biotechnology industry. A custom concentration can be assembled for a specialized area of study such as bioinformatics, genomics, or agricultural biotechnology.